Sooners Erase 25-point Deficit, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive Beating Baylor 34-31
College GameDay was in Waco for the first time in four years. Baylor entered the day 9-0 and as one of the best stories in America. Meantime, the Sooners were 8-1 and trying to maintain their status as the alpha in the Big 12 Conference.
In fact, it was a game that was more than likely to be the Big 12 Title game, especially after Texas had lost to Iowa State earlier in the day. Well this game was the classic tale of two halves on Saturday night in prime time on ABC.
After an OU field goal to start off their opening drive, the Bears got on the board with a lengthy 10-play, 78-yard drive, capped off with quarterback Charlie Brewer’s two-yard touchdown run to give Baylor the 7-3 lead. After a Sooners punt, the Bears used the big play to get on the board this time, with Brewer finding Denzel Mims for a 30-yard strike and a 14-3 Baylor lead.
Then came the first big mistake of the night as Jalen Hurts was sacked by Blake Lynch and fumbled in the process, with Baylor lienbacker Terrel Bernard recovering. Baylor turned that fumble recovery into another touchdown on a Brewer four-yard run. Baylor found itself leading Oklahoma 21-3 early in the second quarter as a double-digit underdog. McLane Stadium hadn’t rocked like this in nearly half a decade.
But that wouldn’t even be the apex of the first half for Baylor. On the next drive, Jalen Hurts made another error, this time it was through the air as he was intercepted by Grayland Arnold, and he returned it 71 yards to the OU nine-yard line. One play later, Brewer found Mims again for a score and a 28-3 Baylor lead at the 11:02 mark of the second quarter.
The Sooners responded with a touchdown of their own as Hurts found Austin Stogner for a five-yard touchdown. Baylor would put through a field goal before halftime and head into the break with a dominant 31-10 lead.
However, the final 30 minutes would be a different story.
The Sooners only scored seven points in the third quarter, but dominated the Bears with over thirty offensive plays, which wore down the Baylor defense, as the Sooners piled up more than 200 total yards.
Then in the fourth quarter, with Baylor’s defense on its heels, Lincoln Riley’s offense struck. OU continued its drive, which ended up being 13 plays and 90 yards, as Hurts found Theo Wease on a 19-yard score.
Following a second-straight three and out by Baylor’s offense, this time OU mastered a 13-play, 77-yard drive as Hurts found Brayden Willis for a two-yard score on a third and goal. After an extra point, this game was tied up a 31 with just over five minutes left in the game.
The Bears had another three and out and at this point, the OU offense had the Baylor defense completely gassed. OU stormed down the field for nine plays and 59 yards before Gabe Brkic knocked through a go-ahead 31-yard field goal as the Sooners led 34-31 for the first time since it was 3-0.
Baylor had one final chance with 1:45 to play. After moving the ball into OU territory, Charlie Brewer was intercepted by Nik Bonitto to seal the comeback for the Sooners.
After the win, Jalen Hurts told ABC, “I think that shows the heart of this team and that character that we have… it’s a big time win today.”
It was also an unprecedented win in OU history. The win is the largest comeback to win in school history for the Oklahoma Sooners.
OU improved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play as they host TCU next weekend and remain in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth. Meantime, Baylor’s CFB Playoff dreams are likely toast, falling to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in Big 12 play. Baylor hosts No. 19 Texas next week.
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